NSW thought leaders 'Switch on Open Government in NSW' during Right to Know Week
30 September 2015
Leaders from across the NSW public sector and industry including the Hon. Victor Dominello MP, Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation and NSW Customer Service Commissioner Michael Pratt, met yesterday at the “Switch on Open Government in NSW” thought leadership event in Sydney to discuss the barriers and opportunities to open government in NSW.
Hosted by the NSW Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Tydd as part of Right to Know Week 2015 (28 Sept – 4 Oct 2015), the forum was an opportunity to hear from thought leaders in NSW on how we can advance our commitment to open government in NSW to achieve better service delivery through information access, transparency and increased citizen input to government policy and service delivery.
Highlights included Minister Dominello’s presentation on the Data Analytics Centre recently announced for NSW which will drive innovation in the public sector and sharing of information between government agencies. Tim Reardon, Secretary for Transport for NSW showcased the work of his agency in engaging with the community with products and services to assist with more efficient travel; and Simone Walker, Executive Director, Design, Innovation, Safety and Permanency, Family and Communities Services offered a compelling insight into ChildStory, a new initiative to improve access to data and in turn improve services to children and families in need. Customer Service Commissioner, Mike Pratt made a case for the NSW citizen having the right to engage with government and showcased online tools such as MyHood which allows communities to connect with government.
Ms Tydd concluded yesterday’s event by announcing her commitment to ensuring that NSW citizens achieve their legislated right to participate in government policy and service delivery decisions. A citizen forum will be established to ensure citizen input in the development of a Charter for Public Participation, as envisioned at the time of introduction of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act).
View the way forward for open government here
“Citizens are shareholders and governments need to act responsibly to create value for their citizens through accountability, transparency and, most importantly, engagement. To advance open government we must improve the way the public sector uses and shares information and data, and implement robust collaboration and co-production mechanisms to encourage greater participation in government decision-making,” said Ms Tydd.
“This work will necessitate a commitment by government to meaningfully and consistently engage with NSW citizens. The NSW government’s commitment to responsive service delivery provides an opportunity to promote public participation. These mechanisms are well developed in other jurisdictions. I will continue to progress this discussion with the NSW Government to ensure that this fundamental public right is activated and independently protected by the NSW Information and Privacy Commission.”
To request an interview with Ms Tydd to discuss the outcomes of the event and this new initiative for NSW, please contact Snezana Novakovic on (02) 8071 7021 or 1800 472 679.
For more information on the IPC and Right to Know Week, please visit www.ipc.nsw.gov.au and follow us on Twitter #RTK2015 for current updates. For details on the “Switch on Open Government in NSW” event including a complete list of the guest speakers view the program here.
